Made around the 1990’s in the USA by Century Precision Optics (now a part of Schneider Optics), it obviously does not couple to the camera’s AE or AF functions and, having no aperture pin, must be used in stop down mode. But herein lies the problem.

The aperture ring is a 22 blade construction but some of the blades have dislodged and can be seen to be out of place. There are also some which seem to have slipped out altogether and can be heard rattling around.

Now I must admit, it is unlikely that I will keep this lens, even if I do manage to sort out the aperture ring. At almost 1m long and requiring its purpose built cradle, which fixes to any tripod capable of taking its weight, it really is too big for my requirements (not to mention taking up a hell of a lot of storage room). But these lenses are said to be of exceptional quality. From what I can gather, the longer focal length Tele Athenar II’s were used by the US and Canadian air forces, while the Tele Athenar was used in the movie industry. So I would rather like to hook it up to my Nikon D300 or D800 to give it a whirl. My thoughts are that the crop frame sensor of the D300 might be better than the full frame sensor of the D800, where vignetting might be servere.

So my question is, is there anybody out there (perchance an ex-employee of Century) who has any knowledge of these lenses and their aperture construction, who can give me any pointers as to how I might be able to repair the iris, or just anyone with a tip or two, before I embark on opening up this monstrous beast of a lens?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, which is linked to Buddhism, no animal should come to harm. But for more than 3000 years Chinese medicine has used animal ingredients, mostly to no avail. But the problem does not lie just with China, other Asian cultures also use Rhino horn. Vietnam has become a major cause for concern in recent years.

Let's just bust one myth. Rhino horn is not used as an aphrodisiac, but it is used in many other circumstances, such as, as an antipyretic, as an antivenom for insect and snake-bite, as a 'cleanser of the liver and stomach', as a cure for the common cold, typhoid, jaundice, rashes, the vomiting and excretion of blood, delirium and abscesses, and for soothing the nerves and improving the eyesight. Rhino horn is also seen as a mark of wealth and social standing.

Lets be clear, there is no evidence that Rhino horn has any curative effect on any of these. You would be far better off taking a simple aspirin.

Rhino horn can fetch a staggering $100,000 per kilo, so it is not hard to see that the trade is not going to go away.

As a consequence of the trade in Rhino horn, the three species of Asian Rhino are listed as vulnerable and critically endangered. The Javan Rhino is estimated to number just 50 individuals. The Sumatran 200 individuals, with perhaps less than 25 in Borneo. Only the Greater One Horned Rhino exists in reasonable numbers. Around 600 individuals were thought to exist in 1975. Thanks to conservation and protection efforts, there are now more than 2900.

The scarcity of the Javan and Sumatran and the protection of the Greater One Horned has put ever more pressure on the African Rhino. In 2014 more than 1200 Rhino were killed by poachers in South Africa. All they take is the horn. So far this year more than 400 Rhino have been killed. (Source - The Guardian).

The Southern White Rhino numbers more than 20,000 individuals, but there are no Northern White Rhino left in the wild and only a few in captivity. The Western Black Rhino was declared extinct in 2011 and there are less than 5,000 individuals over the other three species of Black Rhino.

Perhaps not surprisingly, this article was closed to comments after just two people expressed their concerns. (go to the bottom of the page).

The article was not just misleading, but wholly wrong and even dangerous on so many points.

To begin with, the author (Constance Craig Smith), wrote:

Quote

More than 150,000 of them were imported from countries like Spain and Greece to the UK every year and, shamefully, it’s estimated that four-fifths of tortoises died in the first year of captivity, mostly during the winter because they weren’t looked after properly during hibernation.

In fact, it is estimated that more than 10 million animals were taken from the wild to satisfy demand in the pet trade for the UK. Around 9 million of them died before they even got to the UK and around 900,000 of those which did get here alive, died within their first year in captivity.

Incorrect hibernation was certainly a main contributory factor in the death of so many of these animals, as was incorrect feeding and a host of other poor and ill-informed husbandry practices.

If you were looking for good information on the care of tortoises, you most certainly would not have found it in this article.

Quote from: Constance Craig Smith

Few garden plants are fatally toxic to tortoises ....

Not true. In fact a number of garden plants and wild plants can be fatal or at least make a tortoise very unwell. Lobelia and Hellebore (Christmas Rose) are among common garden plants which can poison a tortoise and the common weed, Groundsel.

As for the diet set out in the article, cabbages, cauliflowers & spring greens, are NOT suitable as they are high in oxalic acid, which prevents the absorption of essential calcium. Fruits, such as tomato and cucumber are also inappropriate as are strawberries, peaches & plums. In fact, the high sugar levels can be dangerous.

Missing from the on-line article, but in the hard copy 'Weekend' supplement, the author indicated that a tortoise might hibernate for 5 months! NEVER, hibernate a tortoise for such a long period, IT WILL starve. 3 months is about the maximum hibernation period for an adult.

Also missing from the on-line version of this article, but printed in the hard copy, is a photo to illustrate how suitable tortoises are for children's pets. It shows a young girl kissing a tortoise's shell!!!NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. NEVER DO THIS.

I hope I don't need to explain why.

The only thing the article got right, was to advise people to visit the web sites of the Tortoise Trust and the Tortoise Protection Group for more information. Hopefully, Mail readers will do so and thus learn how wrong this article is.

EDIT:I should point out that hibernation, estivation, humidity, temperatures, habitat and dietary requirements differ from species to species. What suits a Mediterranean Spur Thigh tortoise would be wholly unsuitable for a Red Foot tortoise and what suits these two species would be life threatening to a Leopard tortoise.

British Airways, one of the world’s largest airlines, in terms of passenger/kilometres flown, was recently petitioned by WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) to cease selling tickets to Seaworld as part of their package deals.

In their response to WDC, Jonathon Counsell, for BA, wrote;

Quote from: Seaworld

SeaWorld has assured us that its animal carestandards exceed this best practice guidance and are governed by US federal andstate laws alongside accreditation standards set by the Association of Zoos andAquariums as well as the Association of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.Further, SeaWorld does not collect cetaceans from the wild and has not done so fornearly three decades.

Does BA not get it? Seaworld is a member of the Association of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Effectively, Seaworld have accredited themselves!

But they can’t even justify their own accreditation. Visitors to Seaworld posted a video on You Tube showing a Pilot Whale struggling to get back into the water. Other dolphins attempted to help the Pilot whale and the audience screamed and shouted for someone to help. Eventually, two ‘trainers’ pushed it back into the pool. A Seaworld worker said “This is what they do. This is how they have fun. They're just playing.” Watch video

NO, a whale out of water for several minuets is DROWNING. In Florida’s climate they will also quickly dry, overheat and become sunburnt. In fact, black zinc oxide is used to cover evidence of sunburn on them received due to being in shallow water.

Seaworld San Antonio has been warned by the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) for “repeated failure to provide drain covers that are securely fastened in order to minimize the potential risk of animal entrapment”, a violation which resulted in the death of a Sealion.

Two ex-employees of Seaworld (one now a doctor, the other a Professor of Biology) released a report detailing the stress suffered by marine mammals in captivity. Stress which they believe caused an Orca to kill a trainer.

BA should have taken more note of the scientific community than Seaworld, but concluded:

Quote from: BA

On this basis we currently see no reason to end our relationship with theorganisation. (Seaworld) We will continue to offer our customers the option to make their owndecisions on whether to visit SeaWorld.

I hope visitors to the US will take note of this review posted to Tripadvisor:

Quote from: Tripadvisor

Of the attractions we visited - the stingrays were packed into a tiny pool that was dirty, tired, and desperately in need of a clean. There were so many in such a confined space that they had barely any room to move. The dolphin area was a similar story - it was a shame to see these beautiful animals packed in to such a small environment (there was a recent fatality when two dolphins collided at a show) - probably the equivalent of a bathtub to us. There was little emphasis on conservation, preservation, or awareness. We expected the park to house these animals in space and comfort. We are not 'animal activists', but we left questioning the morals of a theme park that keeps wild animals in confined spaces and teaches them to do 'tricks' in the name of profit. We were so disappointed that we asked for - and received - our money back. Please think twice before visiting this unethical place and spending a fortune.

BA might like to consider the opinion of the main attraction, the Orca’s, or Killer Whales as they are often better known. Incidentally, they are not whales, they are dolphins. The name Killer Whale comes from a miss-translation of whale killer, which they were given after being seen to attack and kill young Gray Whales during migration.

An Orca might travel up to 100 miles a day in the wild, yet in captivity they are kept in tiny tanks. They suffer from noise related stress. Something they can’t get away from in front of a screaming, cheering, shouting audience. In the wild Orcas are extremely social animals. Pods may contain 20 or more individuals which work together as a team, yet in captivity, they may turn aggressive toward each other.

Then there is life expectancy, the lifespan of an Orca is estimated at around 80 years, but in captivity 35 years is usually the most. Seaworld’s claims that their Orcas might live longer than wild Orcas is preposterous. Orcas are the oceans’ top predators, so they are not likely to suffer from attacks and it is a fact that captive Orcas are more likely to suffer from stress and illness. This is why their food (frozen fish) is laced with additives.

Another piece of evidence straight from the horse’s mouth, or in this case the whale’s fin, is Flaccid Fin Syndrome. Captive Orca’s usually display a droopy dorsal fin, yet in the wild less than 1% of Orcas suffer this problem. It has been suggested that this may be caused by the Orca not being able to get to depths where collagen in the skin would harden and keep the dorsal fin upright.

As to the park’s ‘education programme’, I for one do not see how teaching cetaceans to do tricks for the delight & delectation of paying audiences can possibly go hand-in-hand with education and let there be no confusion, profit is the aim. As to conservation of these Appendix II CITES listed animals, these amusement parks (for that is what they are) do not make any meaningful contribution what-so-ever. Seaworld’s claim that their work helps to increase the “Knowledge and understanding” of Orca’s is obviously flawed. What can you learn about wild animals from trained captive animals?

Now, what about those 23,000 marine animals Seaworld claim to have rescued and returned to the wild? Well its true to say that. Well, true-ish. Turtles, Manatees and other marine animals have been rescued and released back into the wild, but with no follow-up, their success rate remains completely unknown. But these animals can’t be taught to do tricks, the sealions, whales and dolphins they ‘rescue’ can be kept and used to turn a profit.

As to Seaworld’s financial contribution to conservation, their own annual report for 2011-2012 shows they contributed 0.0001% of their income. This is no more than an appeasement token and a drop in SeaWorld's ocean of $'s.

Come on BA, think again. Perhaps you should watch the film Blackfish. Follow the example of many other organisations which have severed ties with Seaworld.

As to the visitors to marine amusement parks, I suggest you watch this film too and find some other means of amusement.

TNS Members & Guests may vote in this poll. You must vote before you can see the results.

A distraught friend told me he had had his camera stolen. He said that it wasn't worth reporting it to the police, because they would never find it.

But there are ways to find your stolen camera.

Having been sold to fund drug addiction or whatever, the unsuspecting new owner may well post pictures on Flickr, Tumblr or some other image publishing site which has an aversion to the letter "E", or some other social media site.

Crawler sites such as stolencamerafinder.com* & cameratrace.com* crawl the internet looking for serial numbers in the EXIF data attached to all digital images published, in much the same way as a search engine, such as Google, crawls the internet looking for tags.

So do inform the police if your camera is stolen and use one of these crawler sites to help find your camera. Simply enter your camera's serial number or drag & drop a JPEG image from your computer to their web site. If the crawler site locates images being uploaded to the internet with your stolen camera's serial number in the EXIF data, you will be informed. You can then pass such information on to the police.

Unless it happens to be Lady Gaga, you are unlikely to see a women dressed in a yellow top with a mauve skirt, blue shoes, pink jacket and green scarf, topped off with an orange hat and carrying a red handbag (US = purse). Such a combination of colours would be considered garish and uncoordinated. The same applies to men and to our homes, offices, shops, restaurants and, in some cases, we even insist on colour co-ordinating our gardens.

Now take a look at this:

The beautiful colours of a wild meadow. You might find just about any colour here next to any other colour and result is pleasing to the eye.

So what is it in the human psyche that demands we colour co-ordinate our dress, homes, cars and so on. If we find the multicolour composition of a wild meadow so pleasing, why would the multicolour outfit described above be so distasteful?

The European Honey Bee is an essential to the pollination of many crops, but in 2006 US bee keepers began to find empty hives, with no apparent explanation for the loss of the worker bees.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), as it became known, has spread around the world to affect bee keepers, both commercial and hobbyist. Bee keepers, governments and agriculture bodies have sunk much time, effort and money into funding research into CCD, but so far to no avail.

The blame has fallen on the Varroa mite, Asian Hornet, Neonicotinides, monocultures and even cell phones, but none seem to fit the bill as the culprit. The problem, it seems, is far more complex than a single vector.

Researchers are continuing to look at CCD as a problem involving several factors.

But what is perhaps an additional concern of just as great a magnitude as CCD among these colony bees, is the growing incidents of the Bumble bee (a solitary bee) falling victim to the pathogens of the Honey bee. Since 2013 a global decline in wild Bumble bee populations has become apparent and the blame is falling squarely on commercial bee stocks.

With thanks to RD for his putting me on the right road to solving this problem.

Updating Windows 8

THE PROBLEM.

After downloading updates, Windows needs to restart to configure the updates.

Upon restart, the message 'Configuring Windows updates' appears on the screen followed by the progress and the obligatory 'Do not turn off your computer'.

The re-configuration reaches 15%, at which point, the on-screen message changes to 'Failure to configure Windows updates' and it then 'retries' the process.

Again, at 15% the message changes to 'Failure to configure Windows updates, reverting to previous settings' and the system restarts in the previous configuration.

This process would be repeated on any attempt to restart the computer.

Attempts to restore the computer to a date previous to the download of the updates fails, as does any attempt to upgrade to Windows 8.1

Go to the control panel, click on 'Windows update' then select 'update history' and the updates show as 'failed' to install.

All these problems seem to originate from the same source.

THE DIAGNOSIS

These problems appear to be the result of 3rd party services which start when the computer is turned on, ie. programmes in the start up system. This may be "Nalpeiron Licensing Service" or some other such programme.

THE WRONG SOLUTION

Windows update troubleshooter did identify and fix two problems, but neither seemed to be the solution. In fact, after using the troubleshooter and restarting the computer, the troubleshooter again identified the same problems. So I presume that the problems with the update also cause a problem with the troubleshooter's fix.

One problem which the troubleshooter identified, it could not fix.

There are many downloadable programmes which claim to resolve problems with Windows. These will scan your computer, identify problems and, usually, fix a few. To fix all the problems found, you will need to buy the full version of the programme. This will cost around US $20 - $30. I can tell you now, they will not fix this problem. Of the two I tried (and demanded & got refunds), one simply said it was a Microsoft Windows problem which I would have to deal with myself and the other just skirted around the problem leaving it, and its consequences, in place.

After searching the internet and trying all manner of fixes. Pressing various buttons, clicking on this, that and the other. Throwing various items around the room and a liberal hurling of what can only be described as 'good old Anglo Saxon expletives' at the computer to no avail, RD (what fine upstanding chap he is) pointed me in the direction of a solution.

If you are as big a numbskull as me when it comes to computers, you might want to print these simple steps to fixing your problem.

THE SIMPLE SOLUTION - AND IT WORKS!

First, close all open windows and your browser. You should now be on your Start Screen.

A popup box appears on your screen. Type into the box "MSCONFIG.EXE" and hit enter (return)

MSCONFIG will now run. On the window select the 'Services' tab.

At the bottom of this window check the 'Hide all Microsoft' box then click on 'Disable all'.

Your computer will now need to restart. At first, it may, once again, try to configure those pesky Windows updates. It will fail as it has done before. Upon restarting, however, the disabled 3rd party services will not start and the configuration will begin again. But this time, it will succeed in configuring the updates.

Once the updates have been successfully installed on your computer, you will need to re-enable those 3rd party services.

Again, with all windows and browsers closed, from your start screen, press & hold the 'Windows' button and press "R".

Type "MSCONFIG.EXE" in the box and hit enter.

In the MSCONFIG window, select the 'Services' tab. Uncheck the 'Hide all Microsoft' box (if necessary) and then click on 'Enable all'. (NOTE: You will not be able to download further updates or upgrade to Windows 8.1 until you have re-enabled these services.)

To keep it short, my new laptop has installed updates for window 8, but after a restart, it fails to configure the updates. What might be the cause and remedy for this problem?

I should add that I can't upgrade to windows 8.1, so the bugger tells me, possibly because there is an update to windows 8 missing. I presume this would be one of the updates which has failed to configure.

Yes, Christmas is coming again and thus far I have spent a small fortune on presinks for the grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law, a new tree, lights and other related paraphernalia. Doubtless I will have to dig deep into my now almost vacant wallet for some goodies for the missus also and still find the odd penny or three for booze and grub. Sheesh!

As an atheist, I justify this Christmas binge by the fact that it is also a time of pagan celebration and by the fact that 'she who will be obeyed' gave me my orders.

But I shall wear my black & white 'Santa' type hat with the legend 'Bah Humbug' emblazoned in the white fur trim and I will tell carol singers to bugger off. Poor Carol, she's a harmless young girl with an unfortunate surname.

Its been a busy time, of late, with events from Buckingham Palace to Aberdeen.But one task at the DSEI event in ExCeL, London, saw me having to put this baby on to the exhibitors stand:

Now I'll accept that I am one of what could be termed 'not inconsiderable stature'....... all right, I'm a tad overweight........ OK, OK, OK, I'm a fat git. But what I want to know is how does some 6'13" built-like-a-brick-outhouse GI manage to get in this monster, let alone drive it for miles across rough terrain. There is surprisingly little room in this 6 ton 90mph armoured truck.

You have to take your hat off to those fella's, you have to take your hat, shoes & socks off to get in this contraption! Still, at least they have the wide open spaces of the desert to drive through, I had a 3m wide aisle in an exhibition hall to get through and then turn it on to the stand without spoiling the carpet!!!

Just recently I've heard a new song on the radio which I was sure I had heard before, or at least the melody I had heard before. After a short think, it came to me, sort of, but I couldn't bring the old song quite to mind. Last night, right out of the blue, it suddenly came to me........... 75, 76, or something to that effect, by............ erm..........errrrr.......... Smokie??? No.I admit, I have cheated, I used You Tube and found it.

An American band which did better in Europe than they did in the states named The Connells released the song on their album 'Ring' in 1993. It reached #14 in the UK and the song was ' -74 -75'. Well I was close.

Now, would you believe it? I've forgoten the new song which sounds so close to it.

The higher ocean temperatures result in more evaporation. This increase in evaporation leads to more condensation when the water vapour laden air reaches land causing the increase in cloud cover and precipitation that the British mainland is currently experiencing. As this cloud cover prevents the Sun’s rays from warming the land, the condensation increases, the cloud cover increases and so it goes on in a vicious circle.

If this is correct, can we in Britain expect to see a repetition of this type of summer weather in future years?

Now I don't want to suggest that I was right back then, but.........

I wonder, could the weather itself actually have an effect upon itself? Could the cold air being sucked south from the artic by the jet stream being far to the south, be preventing the jet stream from driftting north?